Denver, Aug. 26, 2012 (Bicycling.com) —Taylor Phinney of the BMC Racing Team claimed victory in the final Stage 7 time trial of the USA Pro Challenge on Sunday, setting the fastest time of 17min 25sec on the 9.5-mile course, with an average speed of 32.7mph.

But the big story was Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Sharp) finishing in second place, just 10sec behind Phinney, to win the weeklong USA Pro Challenge on the final day of racing.

Vande Velde took the race lead from defending champion Levi Leipheimer (Omega Pharma–Quick-Step), who could manage only ninth place on the stage, 43sec down on winner Phinney.

Taylor Phinney (BMC) was the fastest in Denver, averaging 32.7mph on the 9.5-mile course. (Wil Matthews)

Tejay van Garderen (BMC), who lost the race lead on Stage 6, finished a further 9sec back, in third. After seven days of racing it was Vande Velde in first place at 25hr 57min 34sec, van Garderen second at 21sec back, and Leipheimer third at 24sec down.

Van GarderenDisappointed

"I wasn't ready to lose this race," van Garderen said. "I was convinced I was going to win. Even being down on time, I thought, 'I got this.' I felt super confident and really wanted to win. The team worked hard for me. It was my hometown race, my family was here and it was George Hincapie's last race. I wanted to give him a victory."
Leipheimer Positive After Losing Lead

"I actually felt good and my legs were good," Leipheimer said. "I dropped my chain there on the corner and had a moment of panic. I thought it had come off for sure, maybe jammed. But it miraculously came back on. I don't think I lost much time there. I got down to a really good climbing weight for this race, but when it comes to a 15 kilometers flat race out on city streets, with a lot of corners, I just don't have it compared to going up Flagstaff. But it is what it is. I gave it my all to stand on the podium.

"Yesterday I wore my heart on my sleeve those last three and a half kilometers," he said." I pushed myself pretty hard; I was actually out of breath for 10 minutes. It was the result of the crowd, the positive energy of people who love this sport. They spent hours on the roadside to watch us come by for one second. It's hard to describe what it's like to fly up that climb on Flagstaff with thousands of people there. Every moment you are pedaling, people are just erupting next to you. This race was fantastic. I love this sport. This is why I do it. I can't get enough of it. I'm happy to be on the podium."

Jersey Winners of the 2012 USA Pro Challenge

Exergy Leader Jersey: Christian Vande Velde (USA) of Garmin-Sharp

Waste Management Sprint Jersey: Tyler Farrar (USA) of Garmin-Sharp

Nissan King of the Mountains Jersey: Jens Voigt (GER) of RadioShack-Nissan